{"id":"F2006B09198","name":"AD/DHC-8/42 - Door Labels","slug":"ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":53013,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B09198-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/DHC-8/42 - Door Labels","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\nAD/DHC-8/42 Door Labels 12/95\n\nApplicability: Model DHC-8 aircraft, all series, with serial numbers 3 through 402.\n\n \n\nRequirement: Carry out the label replacement procedure of the Accomplishment Instructions of de Havilland Service Bulletin 8-11-14.\n\n \n\nNote: Transport Canada AD CF-87-07R1 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished, before 30 November 1995.\n\n \n\nBackground: Instances have been reported of passengers mistaking the passenger exit door handle for the toilet door handle and depressurising the aircraft while searching for the toilet.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue safety directive. It addresses one specific problem (door label confusion) with one specific solution (label replacement). There is no evidence of scope creep; the directive remains tightly focused on its original safety purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 200 words)","Only one substantive requirement (replace labels per specified service bulletin)","No defined terms section","No cross-referencing to other legislation beyond a single note about a Canadian equivalent","Single, unambiguous compliance deadline","Clear, singular applicability (specific aircraft model and serial number range)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an Airworthiness Directive (AD) — essentially a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for specific aircraft.\n\n**What it does:** It requires airlines and aircraft operators to replace certain door labels on Bombardier DHC-8 series aeroplanes (also known as Dash 8s). The replacement must follow a specific technical procedure laid out in a manufacturer service bulletin.\n\n**Why it matters:** Passengers were accidentally opening the aircraft's main exit door when they were actually looking for the toilet. Opening an exit door mid-flight causes rapid depressurisation — a serious safety hazard. Better labels prevent passengers from making this dangerous mistake.\n\n**Who must comply:** Anyone operating DHC-8 aircraft with serial numbers 3 through 402 (essentially most early-model Dash 8s). The work had to be done by 30 November 1995 unless already completed.\n\n**Key point:** This is a retrospective safety fix — it doesn't change how future planes are built, but mandates a specific repair on planes already flying."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument itself defines a targeted scope (DHC-8 serial numbers 3–402) and a single mandated action (label replacement per Service Bulletin 8-11-14) with a specified deadline. There is no language within this AD indicating an expansion, narrowing, or amendment of that scope; therefore no change from the scope expressed in the AD is apparent from the text provided (Applicability; Requirement; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical scope limited to DHC-8 serial numbers 3–402 (Applicability)","Single, specific prescriptive action: replace labels per service bulletin (Requirement)","Fixed compliance deadline (Compliance)","Dependence on an external manufacturer's service bulletin for the detailed procedure (Requirement)","Safety‑critical context requiring maintenance documentation and regulatory compliance (Background; Compliance)"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of Bombardier (de Havilland) DHC‑8 aeroplanes, serials 3–402, to replace specific door labels per the de Havilland service bulletin by 30 November 1995. It seeks to prevent passengers mistaking the passenger exit for the toilet door (and accidental depressurisation) and imposes a one‑off compliance cost and maintenance action on the affected operators."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels","history":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-dhc-8-42-door-labels/documents"}}